“No, Donald Trump is not guilty of ‘treason,’a word that’s been bandied about much too loosely this week...

"Trump’s behavior in Helsinki is, however,

New York Times

Meanwhile, “the joint CyberCom-NSA Russia group is working with the FBI, the CIA and Department of Homeland Security, each of which has its own initiative to detect and deter Russian influence operations... The agencies are working within their own authorities, but ‘the lack of presidential guidance to address this as a national problem impedes the ability’ to carry out a more robust and effective effort.”

“The shocked, shocked response at Russian meddling in American domestic matters appears as a natural consequence of blanking out on the 20th century... That an agent of the same KGB that engaged in dirty deeds during the Cold War now leads the Russian nation and employed over-the-top tactics to intrude on the 2016 U.S. presidential election flows from the history that preceded.”

The American Spectator

“From the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats following the poisoning in Britain, to the countless sanctions levied on Russia, to the sale of anti-tank weapons to Ukraine, to increased U.S. oil production, to calls for more NATO defense spending, Trump has been extremely tough on Russia.”

Washington Examiner

Some point out that “recklessness is par for the course with President Trump. When voters sent a wrecking ball to Washington they did so with an awareness that it might break things. But what happened in Helsinki was also... weak and cowardly. Those are things America cannot afford to be. Those are things Brand Trump cannot afford to be, either.”

Washington Examiner

At the same time, “in no way should a president be put under threat of having comments made in private to another foreign leader exposed unless indisputable evidence exists of possible malfeasance or collusion... The Democrats know this will never happen and are only calling for the interpreter to testify as a means to create unnecessary suspicion around the Trump-Putin meeting.”

Daily Wire

“Congress has no role in negotiating with foreign powers... Unless there existed actual and objective evidence of a crime being committed — as opposed to a foolish foreign policy choice — Congress has no oversight role in these kinds of conversations between a president and another world leader.”